Fans express optimism ahead of Super Eagles’ friendly matches
Football enthusiasts in Nigeria have expressed optimism that the Super Eagles will defeat their Saudi Arabian counterparts, the Green Falcons, in the upcoming friendly match in Portimão, Portugal on October 13.
They say the outcome of the match would go a long way to inspire the Eagles ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Bumi Haruna, a former Under 17 national football assistant coach, said the game was important for the Super Eagles as it would boost their confidence and give them a chance to improve their FIFA ranking.
He warned that a loss to Saudi Arabia could have a negative effect on the team, and advised head coach Jose Peseiro to take advantage of the match to work harder on getting a positive result, with a view to putting the Super Eagles ahead of others during the AFCON qualifying series.
“The game will also give them a chance to probably get increased point on the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) rankings.
“Eagles will produce a chronicle triumph against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. It’s a game that is going to encompass lot of things.
“Don’t forget, if the Eagles lose this game, It could have a negative effects on them,” he said.
He, however, advised the Head Coach of the Eagles, Jose Peseiro to take advantage of the match to work harder to bring positive result as he did in previous matches.
“This with a view to putting the Super Eagles ahead of others during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying series.
“He also needs to focus on the upcoming qualification for the world cup and also not forget the AFCON in January 2024,” he said.
He said that the defeat was an upset that will ever be remembered as one of the greatest shocks in the tournament’s 92-year history.
Assessment
Haruna Ilerika, Assistant Coach of the Under 17 national football team, said that playing the Saudi Arabia and Mozambique teams would help Nigeria to assess the level of readiness of the players for the AFCON qualifiers.
He added that the matches would also serve as an opportunity for the coach to assess the qualities of the players.
“For the Eagles going to confront Saudi Arabia and Mozambique team, it will help us as a nation to access the level of readiness of our boys for the nation’s cup qualifiers.
“It will also serve as an opportunity for our coach to be able to access the qualities imbedded in our players.
“So international friendlies are meant to help nations to strengthen their teams as playing consistently will help the coach to identify the quality of the players,” he said.
He said that international friendlies were meant to help nations to strengthen their teams, and that playing consistently would help the coach to identify the quality of the players.
Kazeem Amsad, a football scouting coach, said that the game would afford the coach the opportunity to select his best players ahead of the AFCON.
He said that the Super Eagles coach would not want to be embarrassed by Saudi Arabia, and that the players should put in their best and not take the game for granted, as their performance would determine their invitation for other competitions.
Chioma Offor, a business woman, urged the Super Eagles to take the match seriously, as it would go a long way to shape them for bigger games ahead.
The Super Eagles will also take on the Mambas of Mozambique on October 16, also in Portugal, in a friendly.
This is barely a month before the Super Eagles will host Lesotho in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo on November 17.
Nigeria is among the 24 countries that have sealed qualification to the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
